“Looking out, I saw a man climbing to the window by means of a rope. At once I recognised my unexpected guest. Opening the casement, I admitted him; whereupon, without removing his cap, he collapsed upon a chair, and sat there panting and almost breathless, like a man who has been fleeing before tireless pursuers. I turned away, and for some reason grew pale.

“ ‘Is your father at home?’

“ ‘Yes.’

“ ‘And your mother?’

“ ‘Yes.’

“ ‘Listen to me, then, and do not speak. Do you hear?’

“ ‘Yes, I hear.’

“ ‘You hear what?’

“ ‘I hear a whistling outside the window.’

“ ‘Good! Now, fair lady, do you wish to bring about the downfall of your enemy? If so, you have but to call your father, and, damn me, I will surrender. Take that rope and bind me, if you wish. Now is your chance for revenge.’

“I said nothing.

“ ‘Speak!’

“ ‘What do you want?’

“ ‘I wish to rid myself of a woman for whom I no longer care—to say a last farewell to an old sweetheart of mine, and then to give my soul to a newer and younger love—to you, my beautiful damsel.’

“I burst out laughing. How was it that I so clearly understood his cynical language?

“ ‘Very well,’ he continued. ‘But first of all let me into the house to greet my hosts.’

“I shuddered, and my teeth began to chatter, but I opened the door of the room, and admitted him to the other part of the house. Only when he was crossing the threshold did I sufficiently recover my faculties to say——

“ ‘Take your diamonds with you, and bring me no more such presents;’ and with that I threw him the little box.”

At this point Katerina stopped to take breath. Though she was trembling like a leaf, the blood was once more mounting to her cheeks, her eyes were shining brightly through her tears, and the breath was coming from her lungs with a hissing sound. Presently she turned pale again, and went on in a tone that was at once low, tremulous, mournful, and agitated——